Hurting Turtles for Fun? Mercy.

I know parents cannot control everything that their kids do. You can teach them well and as they get older, hope that they do the right thing/s. Adults, too, may begin to look at all living things a little differently today, too. Here’s to hoping…

When I heard the news about some teens heading down to the creek (or where ever) to hurt some turtles–for fun–I was sick inside. There is no fun in hurting other things.

It may be too late to change the mindset of these young boys, but it may not be too late to change others’–even yours.

When we were buying our first house, the builder was about to kill a big spider who had woven a glorious web in the corner of a door frame. “Wait!” I said. I looked around and found a cup, held it carefully so the spider could crawl into it without hurting even so much as a leg, and let it go outside, in a place it could not get stepped on.

The builder looked at me like I was a little nutty. “Ma’am, that was “just” a spider. Why did you do that?”

I answered, “He wasn’t hurting any of us–and he only has one little life. What right do we have to just “take” it/to squish him?” We don’t.

For whatever reason, God put all of these living things, from animals to bees and bugs, lizards and toads, turtles and snakes, etc. on earth and if it were not for them, we would not have food to eat, or flowers to smell–or admire–or honey to sweeten our tea–since everything contributes some how to our ecosystem, no matter how small they are.

Before you carelessly take another life, please think first. If you can, look into their eyes–you’ll find them fascinating actually. They have interesting parts that only a God with quite an imagination could have made! And when you rescue them, please treat them with care–hurting a wing or leg or another part could make the difference between them living or dying in the great outdoors.

“Fun” is a time when everyone is having fun–not when bad things are happening to poor innocents and others are laughing.

Thanks for stopping by, for listening and for caring. Especially for caring.

Jane

Little Bitty Bits loves sleeping with his little turtle!

This is currently a fundraiser running to help the Rescue Ranch special needs dogs…

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Mebs: From Under the Bridge Mascot

I've been an animal rescuer and advocate since forever! I remember bringing home every size, breed, type of animal, bird, reptile to my parent's house--and then carried it over to my adult life. When I saw there was a need to help disabled animals, I co-founded the Rescue Ranch in Houston (http://hopeformany.org) and need angels to help with some of the supplies/wish list items. I've been writing the Pet's blog for the Houston Chronicle since 2008 after 15 years of writing for newspapers and magazines as well as rescuing/advocating for animals. I hope you join me there, too: http://blog.chron.com /fromunderthebridge. Hugs from the Herd! (Our baby, Mebbie or Mebs, is this blog's mascot. She is the reason that so many have lived. Sending kisses to heaven...)